Nvidia and AI Chipmakers

U.S. stock futures rose modestly Wednesday morning, with investors shifting attention from President Donald Trump’s State of the Union to an earnings report from AI chipmaker Nvidia that could sway the broader market. Futures on the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average were up about 0.3% and Nasdaq futures gained 0.5% ahead of the opening bell, reflecting Wall Street’s dependence on a handful of big tech names tied to the AI boom. The article notes that Trump’s speech emphasized jobs and manufacturing but largely sidestepped detailed plans to ease household cost pressures that polls show are eroding public confidence in his economic stewardship. Individual movers included First Solar, which sank 16.5% in early trading after missing fourth‑quarter profit estimates and issuing subdued 2026 guidance, and restaurant chain Cava, which jumped 11% on strong same‑store sales and a bullish outlook. Globally, Japan’s Nikkei hit a record high on AI optimism, while chip‑linked markets in South Korea and Taiwan also climbed, and oil, gold and the dollar posted modest gains.